Read the article and react. Also take a look at some of the comments on the yahoo site, which I think are pretty interesting.
Some possible discussion questions to answer:
1. What is reasonable or unreasonable in terms of a student dress code?
2. Is the parent doing the right thing in this situation? What would you do if this were your daughter?
3. Should any limits be set on what can constitute an officially recognized religion?
4. This reminds me a bit of some European countries (at least France) which have banned Islamic headscarves in public schools on the grounds that religious symbols should not be allowed in secular schools. What do you think?
This article felt to me like it was word against word. I agree that Ariana is free to express her religious beliefs but I don’t think school is the right place to do so. All students at school should be equal and there should be no exceptions as that may cause a religious conflict even amongst the students, not only amongst the school officials. They might say, why should others respect the dress code policy, when she violates it? Anybody could then put a ring in the nose and say “I belong to Church of Holy Tomato and this is the way I am going to express it, I don’t care.” For instance, what do catholic people do? Is there any need of expressing their beliefs? Being a catholic, I know that most people go to church and are completely happy with that. Moreover, if the girl believes in this “body-modification-religion” then she could also have her piercing elsewhere, where it would not disturb her fellows or teachers. Facial jewellery is prohibited at school and that should be respected by everyone. I am not targeting this specific religion; I am trying to say that everyone should obey the rules. I don’t like making the big humbug about this concern and being her mother, I would simply ask her to take it out during the lessons. This way, she can express her beliefs by not disturbing anyone.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there was a little sentence in the article concerning about the school officials’ opinion, who said that if they were Hindu or Muslim, it would be different. I did not like that at all as it seems like the school officials are actually targeting this particular religion and are “setting themselves up as judges of what constitutes a "real" religion.” I think somewhere in the article I read that it is a fact that the “Iaconos” is an officially recognized religion and therefore the school officials have no right to distinguish between them, but I still don’t think that it is appropriate to wear a nose ring in a school of this kind if Ariana wants to express her religious beliefs.
This article portrays a good amount of intolerance and ignorance from both sides. For one,the school that Ariana attends is inappropriately acting as a judge of her religion and beliefs. I'm not saying I agree with the Church of Body Modification but there are a lot crazier things out there that dwarf this one. As was said in the article, Ariana's mother Nikki was told that if they were Muslim or Hindu, Ariana's piercing would be tolerated. I don't think there should be any exceptions like that. You either allow it or you don't regardless of religion. In addition, it's not like the girl came to school tattooed all over with skulls or something similar. She came with a tiny piece of jewelery in her nose that is barely seen even on the close up photograph of her face.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Ariana and her mother could have rather subdued their "religious pride" for the sake of less problems for them and the school. The article states that Ariana isn't required to wear her jewelery at all times. Also, as person that commented on the article itself pointed out, she could have just replaced the piercing with a transparent one for school ours.
Things would go so much easier if only people were willing to get along a bit nicer...
Religious intolerance has always caused problems that have led to horrible consequences (just think of Medieval Inquisition or World War II) and I think all people should keep it in mind- especially in situations like this. I don’t understand why some of us still can’t tolerate beliefs different from their own. I mean, Ariana didn’t want the principal (or whoever was responsible for her suspension) to join the Church of Body Modification, all she wanted was for him to tolerate it, like other beliefs- Muslim or Hindu. The Clayton High School didn‘t find the new kind of religion “sincere“- but it’s definitely not upon them to decide if it is, or not. Once the citizens of the USA have the right for free exercise of religion, the school should accept it. Moreover, Ariana doesn’t look to me like someone who joined the church just to be able to get their nose pierced and cause publicity. If the girl’s belief requires wearing her nose ring even at shool , she should be allowed to.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the article says nothing about really having to wear it, only about „experiencing divine“ whilst doing so. And who „experiences divine“ at school nowaydays anyway? No teenager, I’d guess. So if she truly didn’t have to wear, why did she? It’s exactly like the case of the woman that was sacked from her because she wore an eyebrow ring- she didn’t have to wear it all the time, right? So maybe Ariana doesn’t have to, either. But I bet the school hadn’t checked it before they suspended her. And they definitely should have done so, before suspending her for the second time. If they had, they could have tried to explain it to the family and could have avoided all this needless trouble. So I see it like this- if the membes of the Church of Body Modification have to wear piercing at all times, the school made a mistake. But if they don’t, the girl is just making things more complicated.
Mária Dudáková
ReplyDeleteThis argumnent strikes me as overdramatized. Just ask yourself, what possible harm could such a little nose plug do? Distract students so that they would have lower scores and the schools overall reputation would wither? I think not. Of course I understand the school is fighting over this solely for moral purposes and the whole ’’embracing the code’’ sharade but if Ariana’s religion is recognized and not made up then they have no right to stop her from wearing face jewelery. There are of course limits to what can be actually called a religion. It should be recognized by at least a little group of people or have some written proof of existence so that it doesn’t seem imaginary.
Furthermore the schools dressing code itsef says the girl should be able to express her religion by any means if she wants to. That’s why it is called freedom of religion. Therefore by suspending her from her school they are basically attacking her personal rights which I think is unacceptabe in a proper society.
I like her mother’s stance in the matter because she is her parent and only she should decide what’s good for her daughter. Even the North Carolina ACLU said that "We do think she has a right to wear her nose ring,".
It‘s reasonable for a school to have a dress code to which the students should act accordingly but certain boundaries should be respected.
When we talk about banning religious symbols from secular schools I think it’s a very good idea. All people in the world are equal so there shouldn’t be any differences or limits especially with children and youngsters who can’t decide about their religion on their own. They are usually pushed into wearing their headscarves and such by parents and relatives of the same religion which eventually leads to being an easy target for bullys, a lot of kids are scared to be around them or they can be even made fun of. This really isn’t a happy fate for a little kid therefore I’m satisfied that they made this decision and banned all the differences.
In general I think there should be a freedom for wearing in a way you want, but it should respects some commonly known rules. For example like in this situation, I do not mind wearing nose ring or other jewelery, if it does not limit the freedom of others and it is not recommendatory. I like to say, that I do not really agree with that Church of body Modification, but if her nose ring wearing does not influence others in school in a way that is not persuading others to start to believe in this religion, it is not bad in my point of view. There are more dangerous things than small nose ring that are not prohibited to wear in schools. But I find it positive, because you can express yourself and that is the same for everybody. This way, i find unreasonable in terms of a student dress code, to prohibited small jewelery that is not really dangerous (for others – if we do not speak about chemical processes which are possibly presented here). Also student dress code says that it is a personal right, like it was stated in the article: “the rights of the Iaconos are being violated by the suspension”. I absolutly disagree with an idea that if she is other religion, it would be different. What is the difference if she wear nose ring because she likes it or it is a part of her belief? The attitude of the schools spokeswoman is definitly bad. To not comment a situation changes nothing. That is exactly what would not help.
ReplyDeleteThe situation of her mother is very interesting. In fact, I cannot say what would I do in her situation, but I hope I would support her and try to solve her situation quickly. If the school does not allow her to wear that nose ring, I would probably try to consult that situation with her, which would maybe lead to the change of school or to the end of her ring.
To react at the case from year 2002, when a woman was fired from her job because of her eyebrow is quit strange, but I find the result that it is not a part of her religious beliefs true.
In general, I think that your religion should not be based on what clothes you wear, but religion is mainly about the things conected with soul.
In my opinion it shoul by allowed to wear everthing you want, if it respects general rules and it does not disturb others.
@Ojo
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Ojo’s comment I realized that on certain issues I was not looking from the right point of view. Both of us certainly agree that the school’s behavior towards Ariana’s religion appears to be very disrespectful and mostly inappropriate in this matter. Once the religion has been officially recognized, there is no question about it - and the school simply cannot act as a judge upon it. The officials defend themselves with the dress code policy, but as Ojo said, “it's not like the girl came to school tattooed all over with skulls”, which means that their arguments are neither strong, nor persuading. Moreover, her piercing is in reality very tiny and little, as could be seen on one of the photos attached to the article. However (and again I must agree with Ojo), as the school refuses to show tolerance to the right to freedom of expression, I suggest the girl could also try to tolerate the rules at school, if she is required to do so, which she indeed is. Returning with the nose ring after the suspension can be recognized as a certain provocation, can’t it be? And that may be the point where the whole conflict complicates even more. Unfortunately, with all those media involved it has now become a very unpleasant situation for both sides. I believe that not involving media into the matter would certainly bring a better outcome as now it is going to harm the reputation of both sides. Even Ariana says she wants to get to a good college, but I can’t think of school that would want a student that violates rules and brings shame on it. Colleges look for students that would represent them during their study and I don’t think Arian can now be considered as one of them.
Zuzana Vancova
Responding to OjO:
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea that article portrays intolerance and ignorance and it is clearly seen from both sides.But the notice of school did not realy said that it would be tolerated if she is Muslim or Hindu. It said that it would be different which is another thing ( but also, I do not agree with that at all ). The way how the school is judging Ariana´s religion and beliefs is horrible. What is true, the way of your expression should not have to be judge in terms of your religion. Your opinion that this situation is something different from if she came tattooed all over with skulls, but laws should be tolerated at all, without any exceptions.
I am also familiar with the idea that Ariana and her mother do not make it easier, but I think that if you (or even me)had such a problem, you will probably try to fix it in your advantage. I also think that she should replace her piercing with a transparent one.
Your ending sentence is true a lot ...
@ Dud
ReplyDeleteI think that in your arguments, you attack the school a bit too much. Sure they are suppressing the girl's rights to show her personality and her religion, but it's not necessarily just because they don't like the piercing. The school rules say that she can't have piercings (even though it's a part of her religion). I agree that they should get their facts straight about the religions. As i stated in my comment they should either allow presentation of religion by all or none. However, the school is also trying to maintain "order" in the school. If they made an exception that violated the rules (maybe even because of religion) then other students may get an idea that they can do (or come to school dressed in) anything and get away with it. Therefore I think a mutual agreement is necessary for things to work out.